Kendrick, Bullpen Awful in Loss to Twins

In a barnburner at Target Field, the Phillies lost yet again. They move to 2-9 in June with an 11-7 loss to the Twins.

BAD KENDRICK/BAD BULLPEN

-It’s really a coin flip anymore as to what Kyle Kendrick you’ll get. On Tuesday, it was bad Kendrick. Giving up five runs over the first two innings is just about the worst thing you can do while trying to protect this Phillies offense.

-His final line: four innings, eight hits, six runs, two walks, two strikeouts. That’s just not going to get it done, but really, what choice do the Phillies have but to ride the Kendrick Coaster.

-This young Phillies bullpen is shaky. Joe Savery, B.J. Rosenberg, Jake Diekman, and Chad Qualls all tried to keep it close and could not. All told, the pen wasn’t very mighty, allowing five runs runs on nine hits in four innings of work. As Todd Zolecki pointed out in a tweet during the seventh, the offense hasn’t been the issue – it’s clearly the arms.

Offense isn’t the problem as tonight shows. Since April 22, Phillies rank 6th in baseball in runs per game (4.74), but 24th in ERA (4.36).

— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) June 13, 2012

-The Twins putting up 11 runs on 17 hits tells you all you need to know, really.

DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK

-The Phillies offense actually had a respectable day at the dish. They were just let down by the pitching.

-Let’s start at the top, where Jimmy Rollins had himself an evening. J-Roll finished 4-for-5 with two doubles and  two RBIs. The Phillies need him to be that table setter. His performance was one of the positives.

-Jim Thome had another solid night, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Too bad there’s no DH in the NL…

-The bottom third of the Phillies order was excellent. Carlos Ruiz, Mike Fontenot, and Michael Martinez combined to go 7-for-13 on the night.

DAMN D

-Hunter Pence had yet another costly error in right field. As the Phillies were attempting to continue their comeback in the fifth inning, down 6-4, he let a single by Ryan Doumit get by him. Doumit would go to third base and score one batter later on a single by Trevor Plouffe. Jamey Carroll then slapped a double down the left field line two batters later that would score Plouffe (who actually never touched third). That would prove costly as the Phillies fell short in their second comeback bid in the later innings.

-Speaking of D, Placido Polanco will likely be back tomorrow, which should solidify things on the diamond a bit. Although, props to Mike Fontenot for having a decent night with the glove.

-And how about the play by the young fan that cost the Phillies in the seventh? Unlucky break that cost the Phillies a run when Fontenot was robbed by a Phillies fan in the front row along the third base line.

NOTES

-Things you wouldn’t hear a Phillies fan say any time in the last five years: “I can’t wait for the NBA Finals to start.” Many had to be saying that. I know I did after the first two innings.